Lydia for two days before the attack. Her house might have been broken into at any time since she’d left for Lydia, the break-in undetected until Mary opened thedoor. The intruder could have easily found clues at her house that would have told him she’d gone to Lydia. He could have hopped the next flight and arrived in plenty of time to plan his next attack.
But why? What was so important?
Linus spoke, his low voice cutting short the fear that ran rampant through her thoughts. “Do you want to come with me to the royal guard station? I’d liketo call the Seattle police as well, but I’ll need you with me to fill in the facts.”
As she looked up at Linus and met his eyes, Julia felt the reassurance of knowing that she was in good hands. She thanked God for Linus—for his attentive concern and his skill at knowing just what to do. And then she prayed that he would know what to do, and that somehow, the attacks would end.
* * *
As Linus finished explaining the situation to the police in Seattle, he felt grateful for Julia’s confidence in him. He certainly didn’t feel confident. First off, the police had pulled up the file on the office break-in Julia had reported weeks before. Based on their notes in that file, they weren’t too concerned about what might have happened at her house.
Linus assured them that theyneeded to be concerned. They agreed to send someone to look at the house and take a statement from Mary.
It was the best he could do from half a world away. He closed the call and looked at Julia apologetically.
“Do you think it’s related?” She looked up at him from the office chair where he’d seated her, afraid after seeing her pale face that she might keel over if she got any morebad news.
Linus nodded as he turned his chair to face hers, already analyzing the newest twist in the case. All the things that had happened were like pieces of a puzzle, and this new development felt like an odd piece he’d picked up. He couldn’t decide if it fit with the rest or belonged to a different puzzle entirely. Given the proximity to the other events and the previous break-in atJulia’s office, he felt nearly certain it had to fit. But how?
Julia scrunched her face in a puzzled expression. “If it was the same person, why would he do so much damage to my house when he was so careful with my office?”
Linus had been wondering the same thing. “Maybe the perpetrator knew you called the police about the office break-in. Maybe he figured you’d notice, no matter howcareful he was, so he caused damage instead to throw you off track and hide what he was really after. Maybe he just wanted to scare you.”
“What do you think he was after?”
“The file?” Linus raised an eyebrow.
Julia shook her head, perplexed. “What file? The Seattle Electronics vs. Pendleton file? They already broke into that file cabinet, but they didn’t take the file when theyhad the chance. Besides, all my work files are at my office. What could they possibly have been looking for at my house?”
“It’s hard to guess without seeing what they did to your house.”
“Mary tried to describe the damage,” Julia said as she sat up straighter, “but I suppose I’m the only one who could tell if something was really missing.” She planted her feet on the floor with determinationand rose to stand, still favoring her uninjured leg.
Linus stood as well, extending an arm to help her, glad when she placed one hand over his fingers. He had an inkling of what she was thinking, and he didn’t like it. “You want to go back to Seattle?”
“How else am I supposed to sort this out? Besides, the break-in could have happened days ago, maybe just after I left town. If it wasthe same person who attacked me last night, the perpetrator probably followed me to Lydia after they realized I wasn’t home. If they’re in Lydia right now, Seattle might be the safest place for me.” She turned toward the door. “I’m going to see
But why? What was so important?
Linus spoke, his low voice cutting short the fear that ran rampant through her thoughts. “Do you want to come with me to the royal guard station? I’d liketo call the Seattle police as well, but I’ll need you with me to fill in the facts.”
As she looked up at Linus and met his eyes, Julia felt the reassurance of knowing that she was in good hands. She thanked God for Linus—for his attentive concern and his skill at knowing just what to do. And then she prayed that he would know what to do, and that somehow, the attacks would end.
* * *
As Linus finished explaining the situation to the police in Seattle, he felt grateful for Julia’s confidence in him. He certainly didn’t feel confident. First off, the police had pulled up the file on the office break-in Julia had reported weeks before. Based on their notes in that file, they weren’t too concerned about what might have happened at her house.
Linus assured them that theyneeded to be concerned. They agreed to send someone to look at the house and take a statement from Mary.
It was the best he could do from half a world away. He closed the call and looked at Julia apologetically.
“Do you think it’s related?” She looked up at him from the office chair where he’d seated her, afraid after seeing her pale face that she might keel over if she got any morebad news.
Linus nodded as he turned his chair to face hers, already analyzing the newest twist in the case. All the things that had happened were like pieces of a puzzle, and this new development felt like an odd piece he’d picked up. He couldn’t decide if it fit with the rest or belonged to a different puzzle entirely. Given the proximity to the other events and the previous break-in atJulia’s office, he felt nearly certain it had to fit. But how?
Julia scrunched her face in a puzzled expression. “If it was the same person, why would he do so much damage to my house when he was so careful with my office?”
Linus had been wondering the same thing. “Maybe the perpetrator knew you called the police about the office break-in. Maybe he figured you’d notice, no matter howcareful he was, so he caused damage instead to throw you off track and hide what he was really after. Maybe he just wanted to scare you.”
“What do you think he was after?”
“The file?” Linus raised an eyebrow.
Julia shook her head, perplexed. “What file? The Seattle Electronics vs. Pendleton file? They already broke into that file cabinet, but they didn’t take the file when theyhad the chance. Besides, all my work files are at my office. What could they possibly have been looking for at my house?”
“It’s hard to guess without seeing what they did to your house.”
“Mary tried to describe the damage,” Julia said as she sat up straighter, “but I suppose I’m the only one who could tell if something was really missing.” She planted her feet on the floor with determinationand rose to stand, still favoring her uninjured leg.
Linus stood as well, extending an arm to help her, glad when she placed one hand over his fingers. He had an inkling of what she was thinking, and he didn’t like it. “You want to go back to Seattle?”
“How else am I supposed to sort this out? Besides, the break-in could have happened days ago, maybe just after I left town. If it wasthe same person who attacked me last night, the perpetrator probably followed me to Lydia after they realized I wasn’t home. If they’re in Lydia right now, Seattle might be the safest place for me.” She turned toward the door. “I’m going to see
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